Resolution Fostering Service

Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Resolution Fostering Service 1 Resolution Fostering Services

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355 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 6XU Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency was registered in October 2016. It provides long-term, short-term and emergency foster care placements for children and young people from birth up to the age of 17. The agency currently provides eight foster families who are caring for 17 children.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Date of previous inspection: 13 February 2018

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This monitoring visit

This independent fostering agency was judged inadequate at its first full inspection, which took place on 27 and 28 November 2017. As a result, Ofsted issued six compliance notices. A monitoring visit took place on 13 February 2018 to monitor three notices. They were not met.

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This monitoring visit

The focus of this visit was to monitor the actions taken by the provider to comply with the three remaining notices. The three notices monitored related to: fitness of workers, employment of staff and quality reviews of the agency.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, the registered manager was absent until she resigned from her post with immediate effect on 22 December 2017. A new manager took up post on 3 January 2018 but resigned with immediate effect on 9 February 2018. A second new manager took up post on 12 February 2018 but also resigned with immediate effect, on 22 February 2018.

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This monitoring visit

The agency is currently recruiting another manager and, in the meantime, has appointed the supervising social worker to be acting manager in addition to her day- to-day role. A permanent administrative assistant has been appointed and is having a positive impact on the organisation of records and staff files. A part-time consultant social worker has been employed to help develop and implement an action plan for improvement, and to supervise the manager of the agency. In addition, another consultant social worker has been recruited to assist with driving Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Resolution Fostering Service 2 improvement in the current absence of a manager. The changes in management have had a detrimental effect on the agency’s progress in meeting the compliance notices and on running an effective fostering agency. While there is evidence of some progress, none of the notices are fully met. Interviews have taken place for a

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This monitoring visit

Staff recruitment practice is not robust, it does not ensure that persons working for the agency are fully vetted and deemed fit to work with children. There are shortfalls in processes relating to following up: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, staff references and gaps in employment. Although there is evidence of attempts to improve staff recruitment records, these remain inadequate. Staff files are not kept in accordance with regulation and do not demonstrate robust recruitment practice. This does not protect children well. For example, recent photographs are not held on file, there is no evidence that the agency has carried out DBS checks on some staff, and two written references are not obtained prior to employment for all staff. The agency has not verified the reason why persons who have previously worked with children ended that employment. Full employment histories are not obtained for all new starters and some new staff have been

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This monitoring visit

interviewed and offered positions, subject to checks, without the agency holding any written information about them. The agency’s recruitment policy is not being followed to ensure that staff are safely recruited to the service. The notice issued under regulation 20 is therefore not met.

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This monitoring visit

Permanent staff are not subject to satisfactory completion of a probationary period. Staff do not have job descriptions. Staff are not receiving regular supervision and appraisal in line with the agency’s policy. Staff files show inconsistent implementation of the policy relating to the probationary period for new staff. Some new staff have had an initial probationary review. Other, long-standing staff, have still not had their probationary period signed off. Nor have they had regular supervision or annual appraisal. Only one team meeting has taken place since the full inspection. Staff competence is not being appropriately assessed and monitored because staff are not receiving supervision and appraisal. This does not ensure that staff have the required skills to carry out their roles effectively or that they receive appropriate support and guidance in their work. Staff training records do not demonstrate that personal or professional development is promoted or that social

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This monitoring visit

workers have the opportunity to keep up to date with changes in the sector.

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This monitoring visit

New staff are not routinely issued with job descriptions. For example, the new manager had no job description, and nor have the consultant social workers. This means that they are not clear about their roles and responsibilities. The notice issued under regulation 21 is therefore not met.

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This monitoring visit

Although the agency had been operational for over a year, it had not monitored the operation of the service or reviewed the quality of care in accordance with schedule 6 of the regulations. There is no evidence of regular monitoring by the agency’s senior team. No written reports on the management, outcomes and financial state of the agency have been presented to the provider or Ofsted. While consecutive Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Resolution Fostering Service 3 managers and the social work consultant have formulated an action plan to address the shortfalls identified by Ofsted, there has been no written review of the service. Consequently, the provider has not monitored the service effectively since the full inspection. He does not have a good, reliable overview of the agency or of children’s progress and outcomes. A tool for monitoring the matters set out in schedule 6 has

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This monitoring visit

been drawn up, but not implemented. Those matters are therefore not being monitored effectively. Without such a report, the registered person has not been able to demonstrate the impact of monitoring the agency’s practice and has not identified patterns or trends. Some action has been taken to improve procedures and documentation but progress has been delayed because of the changes in management. The notice issued under regulation 35 is therefore not met.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors carried out a minimal check on progress in meeting the three compliance notices that were found to be unmet on 13 February 2018. Although there were signs of improvement, shortfalls in records, and in assessments of children’s safeguarding needs, remain.

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This monitoring visit

The agency has made some improvements to children’s and carers’ records. However, these are not yet good and more needs to be done to ensure that they reflect the service delivered. Some children’s files are still missing key documents such as care plans, placement plans and statutory review documents.

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This monitoring visit

A new risk assessment and risk management plan have been introduced. Two were checked. They lacked depth and detail. This means they are not a useful tool in helping carers to understand and manage risks relating to individual children. There was evidence of some good practice relating to a child protection matter. However, the agency’s work was not well documented in records.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has not yet undertaken any training to improve his knowledge and skills. Despite this, he reports that he has a much clearer understanding of his role as responsible individual and that he has learned a lot from the social work consultant and the two managers who have tried to address the shortfalls in the agency. He stated his intention to continue in the role of responsible individual. While there is evidence of him making changes to improve the service, it is of concern that none of the six compliance notices have been met within the timeframes set. The agency is still not being run in accordance with regulation. It is not being monitored effectively, managed or staffed to meet children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will hold a case review to agree what action to take in response to the agency’s failure to meet the compliance notices. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Resolution Fostering Service 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to the Chief Inspector and place a copy on their website (if they have one). The fostering service provider must ensure that the fostering service is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 3 (2) (5)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must keep under review and, where appropriate, revise the statement of purpose and children’s guide, and, notify the Chief Inspector of any such revision within 28 days. (Regulation 4(a)(b)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

A person must not manage a fostering agency unless they are fit to do so. A person is not fit to manage a fostering agency unless that person, having regard to the size of the fostering agency, its statement of purpose, and the numbers and needs of the children placed by it has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for managing the fostering agency, and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to that person in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 1. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(i)(ii) (Schedule 1)) 11/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider and the registered manager must, having regard to— (a) the size of the fostering agency, its statement of purpose, and the numbers and needs of the children placed by the fostering agency, and (b) the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children placed by the fostering agency, carry on or manage the fostering agency (as the case may be) with sufficient care, competence and skill. (2) The registered provider must ensure that— (b) where the registered provider is an organisation, the responsible individual undertakes, from time to time, such training as is appropriate to ensure that they have the experience and skills necessary for carrying on the fostering agency. 11/02/2018 Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Resolution Fostering Service 5 (3) The registered manager must undertake from time to time such training as is appropriate to ensure that they have

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Requirement Due date

the experience and skills necessary for managing the fostering agency. (Regulation 8 (1)(a )(b) (2)(b) (3) The registered person in respect of an independent fostering agency must ensure that the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded and promoted at all times. (Regulation 11(a)) 11/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a written record is made of any complaint or representation, the action taken in response to it, and the outcome of the investigation. (Regulation 18 (4)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must not employ a person to work for the purposes of the fostering service unless that person is fit to do so. For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work for the purposes of a fostering service unless that person has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work they are to perform, and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to that person in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 1. (Regulation 20 (1)(a) (3)(b) (Schedule 1)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must ensure that all permanent appointments are subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation, and provide all employees with a job description outlining their responsibilities. The fostering service provider must ensure that all persons employed by them receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 21 (1)(a)(b) (4)(a)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

A fostering service provider must maintain a case record for each foster parent approved by them which must include copies of the documents specified in paragraph (2). The documents referred to in paragraph (1) are any recommendations made by the fostering panel, the foster care agreement, and a record of each placement with the foster carer, including the name, age and sex of each child placed, the date on which the placement began and, if the placement has been terminated, the date and circumstances of the termination. (Regulation 30 (1) (2)(c)(d) (4)(a)) 11/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals, and improving the quality of foster care provided by the fostering agency. The registered person must provide the Chief Inspector with a written report in respect of any review conducted for the purposes of paragraph (1) and, on 28/02/2018 Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Resolution Fostering Service 6 request, to any local authority. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2)) If any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 7 takes place in relation to a fostering agency, the registered person must without delay notify the persons or bodies indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 36 (1) (Schedule 7)) 28/02/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the fostering service only suggests foster carers to local authorities as a potential match for a child if the foster carer can reasonably be expected to meet the child’s assessed needs and the impact of the placement on existing household members has been considered. Where gaps are identified, the fostering service should work with the responsible authority to ensure the placement plan sets out any additional training, resource or support required. (NMS 15.1) In particular, recording matching considerations and decisions.  Ensure that staff, panel members and fostering households understand the nature of records maintained and follow the service’s policy for the keeping and retention of files, managing confidential information and access to files (including files removed from the premises). There is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record keeping and take action when

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Recommendations

needed. (NMS 26.1) In particular, ensuring that all records are uploaded and stored on the agency’s recording system in a timely way.  Ensure that where there is an agency placement, the agency works with the responsible authority to ensure effective integration of information held in the agency’s case files and those of the responsible authority. (NMS 26.8) In particular, obtaining children’s care and placement plans, review documentation and all relevant information held by the responsible authority.  Ensure that the placement plan, which forms part of the child’s care plan, is drawn up before the child is placed, or if this is not possible, within five days of the start of the placement (Regulation 9(2) of the 2010 Regulations). The foster carers should play an active role in agreeing the contents of the child’s placement plan and must have a copy of the child’s placement plan (standard 31). An effective placement plan will ensure that the foster carer receives

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Recommendations

essential information about the child, including his/her health, education and emotional needs, how these may affect the child day to day, and appropriate strategies for responding to these needs. This will include information about any behaviour which was of a concern in a previous placement. (‘The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 4: Fostering Services’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Resolution Fostering Service 7

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the independent fostering agency since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Resolution Fostering Services Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: 355 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 6XU

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Inspectors

Sharon Lloyd, social care inspector Marina Tully, social care inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Resolution Fostering Service 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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